- Title
- Factors leading to Complications following Traditional Male Circumcision among Initiates reporting at Mthatha Regional Hospital, South Africa
- Creator
- Zokwe, Mendi Prince
- Description
- Traditional male circumcision, a prestigious practice, and pathway to a sense of belonging and manhood among AmaXhosa has left unforgettable pains in the same society that admires it. The pains are due to the irreversible aftermaths such as death and loss of the penis that often accompanies it. Anecdotal evidence suggests that an increasing number of AmaXhosa males though still prefer TMC, only partakes in the cultural lessons at the initiation schools then go for medical male circumcision. But, who is to be blamed? The news reports of the deaths following traditional male circumcision (TMC) are heard and the fears for sure are real. This study was carried out to provide evidence-based knowledge on the prevalence of complications following TMC and factors that lead to such complications. Aim: To find out the types of complications and medical outcomes following TMC among initiates reporting at Mthatha Regional Hospital. Method: A retrospective study design was used. The study population included 23 initiates who sought medical intervention at Mthatha Regional Hospital from June to December 2018. The variables of interest were collected from the admission records and analysed. Results: The mean age of participants was 18.5 years (standard deviation = 1.4 years). The majority (65.2%) of the participants were in the age group 18-21 year, were circumcised in summer (52.2%), waited for 10-20 days before seeking medical intervention (47.8%), and were admitted in the male surgical ward (69.6%). xiv The mean and standard deviation of length of hospital stay was 22.2±20.3 days. During hospitalisation, antibiotics were given to 33.3% and wound dressing to 60.5%. Other medico-surgical interventions wee rehydration therapy (28.1%), analgesics (26.3%), penile reconstruction with a skin graft (23.7%), re-circumcised (5.3%) or had a dorsal slit (5.3%). Grade 3 septic circumcision was the most prevalent (43.5%) among the initiates and 26.1% had Grade 4 septic circumcision. The three main factors leading to TMC-related complications were wound sepsis (32.4%), dehydration (21.1%), and septic shock (12.7%). No variables were associated with TMC complications in the study population. Most (78.3%) of them were treated and discharged. Two (8.7%) participants died, one from septic shock and the other from severe dehydration. Though 82.6% were alive with no deformity at discharge, 4.8% had an artificial penis and another 4.8 percent loss of the penis. Conclusion: Complications following TMC are real. Severe septic complications were common following TMC. There is a need to explore how to transform the harmful aspects of the initiation ritual while promoting the positive ones. There is a need to also determine possible ways of interaction and partnership between traditional leadership and the Department of Health.
- Description
- Thesis (Masters) -- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2022
- Date
- 2022-00
- Subject
- Medicine
- Type
- Masters theses, text
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/11260/9923
- Identifier
- vital:74643
- Format
- computer, online resource, application/pdf, 1 online resource (64 pages), pdf
- Publisher
- Walter Sisulu University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, All Rights Reserved, Open Access
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| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details | SOURCE1 | MENDI PRINCESS ZOKWE.pdf | 1 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details |